The entertainers: Ant and Dec

This feels like real life," says Declan Donnelly, settling back into the sofa next to Anthony McPartlin. "We've done this before." You would have thought that after all those hours on telly performing – often live – for millions, Ant and Dec would want to do anything but watch it when they got home. "It's my number-one way to relax," says Dec. "We watch everything and anything and we constantly text each other to check what we're watching." Dec's last text to Ant was about the best ham sandwich in the world, as featured on Countrywise Kitchen. Ant's alerted Dec to the Hairy Bikers' pork terrine. Both food related, "but we text through sport, documentaries and dramas, too," says Dec. As hosts of Britain's Got Talent, the pair have been baffled by the competition revved up between BGT and The Voice. "It's just about the time slot," says Ant. "The shows are completely different. BGT is fun, a laugh." Adds Dec: "But have any of their contestants sung, 'Where's Me Keys? Where's Me Phone?' Hopefully they will on season two"…

Would you be a good gameshow contestant?Dec We would. We've hosted so many that we've got loads of knowledge about crap stuff. You accumulate it. Ant I wouldn't mind being on The Chase and beating that woman. I don't like her. Favourite childhood TV? DecGame for a Laugh, Noel's House Party, Tiswas and Going Live. Ant Anything but Dad's Army.

The leading lady: Anna Maxwell Martin

“People must think I just cry and have a sad face all the time:” Anna Maxwell Martin. Photograph: Ian Derry for the Observer Ian Derry/Observer

I wish I got offered more comedy," says Anna Maxwell Martin. "People must think I just cry and have a sad face all the time." It's hard to feel sorry for her when, over the years, she's cried her way so brilliantly through such great TV shows as Bleak House, South Riding and White Girl. She gets to look sad in two new dramas this year. "I'm in a 50s thriller called The Bletchley Circle, which has a grisly murder and nice cossies." Then there's Jimmy McGovern's Accused. "The part wasn't like anything I've done before – I was cast as someone who works in a juvenile detention centre alongside Ewen Bremner. We were the scrawniest people in there." Anna says she's missing out on all the "groovy hot dramas" at the moment. "I've just had a baby so I'm in bed at 8pm. I'm watching Corrie though. It's my dream to be in it when I'm 70. If I could end my days on Corrie, I'd be happy."

Who's your favourite newsreader? There's my friend Romilly Weeks – I get really excited when I see her on telly – and Kate Simms on North West Tonight. She's my best friend and my daughter's godmother. Favourite childhood show? I watched The A Team and the wrestling. New TV discovery? Monica Dolan who was in Appropriate Adult. She's the most extraordinary actress.

The trickster: Kayvan Novak

"If you’re winding up Americans, their buttons are in different places:" Kayvan Novak. Photograph: Ian Derry for the Observer Ian Derry/Observer

After the phenomenal success of prank-call extravaganza Fonejacker, Kayvan Novak is relishing his new role on hidden-camera show Facejacker, when he acts out his surreal characters instead. "It tickles my acting ability. It's total immersion – no action, no cut – you're with people who think you're real." The show was mainly filmed in the States, which Novak enjoyed. "If you're winding up Americans, their buttons are in different places. I was trying to process how the British compare to the Americans, so I read Quentin Crisp. He says that the difference is that the British want you to fail because they're afraid you'll leave them behind. The Americans want you to succeed in case you take them with you. I want to be as articulate as that, instead of just regurgitating it."

Would you be a good gameshow contestant? I love cooking shows – like MasterChef: The Professionals. I'll be editing until 10pm then get home, make dinner, and sit and eat while watching other people make dinner. So anything to do with cooking would be good. Favourite TV?Shameless has a good vibe and I love Breaking Bad. Favourite childhood show? I loved Harry Enfield and Blackadder. Spitting Image was the first show that I started mimicking off the telly.

The super villain: Andrew Scott

"I have to remain schtum. Even my mother doesn’t know what happens": says Andrew Scott on the third series of Sherlock. Photograph: Ian Derry for the Observer Ian Derry/Observer

Andrew Scott declares his role in BBC's Sherlock as arch-nemesis Jim Moriarty to be an absolute blast. "Every time he appears he gets great stuff to do. You get real bang for your buck." Though Scott first made his mark in theatre – appearing in such award-winning productions as Cock and A Girl in a Car with a Man in Londonand in David Hare's The Vertical Hour in New York – he has two more TV dramas coming soon. First, there's psychological drama The Fuse, starring alongside Christopher Eccleston, for the BBC – "It's a very human story about obsession," he says – then an adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier's The Scapegoat for ITV.

After that there's the third series of Sherlock to consider – well, possibly. Any hints about the resolution of season 2's cliffhanger, which seemed to end with the deaths of Moriarty and Holmes? "I have to remain schtum. Even my mother doesn't know what happens."

Favourite sitcoms? Grandma's House and Twenty Twelve. Olivia Colman and Jessica Hynes are brilliant.Favourite childhood show?The Muppet Show: the theme music makes me excited even now. I used to watch the drama Chocky, too. There's something about sophisticated drama for kids – it's just great.Guilty pleasure? Judge Judy. It appeals to some weird side of me, I like the way she deals with idiots. I got into it when I was doing Emperor and Galilean at the NT last year. You can't go home and watch BBC4's The History of Desks after Ibsen. Favourite US show? I've just started Mad Men. I want to be that person who watches it until 4am, but I don't think I am.